The Lady from the Sea Part 18

The Stranger. I was on my way home to you, Ellida. I came across an old newspaper. It was a paper from these parts, and in it there was that about the marriage.

Ellida (looking straight in front of her). The marriage! So it was that!

The Stranger. It seemed so wonderful to me. For the rings--why that, too, was a marriage, Ellida.

Ellida (covering her face with her hands). Oh!--w.a.n.gel. How dare you?

The Stranger. Have you forgotten that?

Ellida (feeling his look, suddenly cries out). Don't stand there and look at me like that!

w.a.n.gel (goes up to him). You must deal with me, and not with her. In short--now that you know the circ.u.mstances--what is it you really want here? Why do you seek my wife?

The Stranger. I promised Ellida to come to her as soon as I could.

w.a.n.gel. Ellida, again--!

The Stranger. And Ellida promised faithfully she would wait for me until I came.

w.a.n.gel. I notice you call my wife by her first name. This kind of familiarity is not customary with us here.

The Stranger. I know that perfectly. But as she first, and above all, belongs to me--

w.a.n.gel. To you, still--

Ellida (draws back behind w.a.n.gEL). Oh! he will never release me!

w.a.n.gel. To you? You say she belongs to you?

The Stranger. Has she told you anything about the two rings--my ring and Ellida's?

w.a.n.gel. Certainly. And what then? She put an end to that long ago. You have had her letters, so you know this yourself.

The Stranger. Both Ellida and I agreed that what we did should have all the strength and authority of a real and full marriage.

Ellida. But you hear, I will not! Never on earth do I wish to know anything more of you. Do not look at me like that. I will not, I tell you!

w.a.n.gel. You must be mad to think you can come here, and base any claim upon such childish nonsense.

The Stranger. That's true. A claim, in your sense, I certainly have not.

w.a.n.gel. What do you mean to do, then? You surely do not imagine you can take her from me by force, against her own will?

The Stranger. No. What would be the good of that? If Ellida wishes to be with me she must come freely.

Ellida (starts, crying out). Freely!

w.a.n.gel. And you actually believe that--

Ellida (to herself). Freely!

w.a.n.gel. You must have taken leave of your senses! Go your ways. We have nothing more to do with you.

The Stranger (looking at his watch). It is almost time for me to go on board again. (Coming nearer.) Yes, yes, Ellida, now I have done my duty.

(Coming still nearer.) I have kept the word I gave you.

Ellida (beseechingly drawing away). Oh! don't touch me!

The Stranger. And so now you must think it over till tomorrow night--

w.a.n.gel. There is nothing to think over here. See that you get away.

The Stranger (still to ELLIDA). Now I'm going with the steamer up the fjord. Tomorrow night I will come again, and then I shall look for you here. You must wait for me here in the garden, for I prefer settling the matter with you alone; you understand?

Ellida (in low, trembling tone). Do you hear that, w.a.n.gel?

w.a.n.gel. Only keep calm. We shall know how to prevent this visit.

The Stranger. Goodbye for the present, Ellida. So tomorrow night--

Ellida (imploringly). Oh! no, no! Do not come tomorrow night! Never come here again!

The Stranger. And should you then have a mind to follow me over the seas--

Ellida. Oh, don't look at me like that!

The Stranger. I only mean that you must then be ready to set out.

w.a.n.gel. Go up to the house, Ellida.

Ellida. I cannot! Oh, help me! Save me, w.a.n.gel!

The Stranger. For you must remember that if you do not go with me tomorrow, all is at an end.

Ellida (looks tremblingly at him). Then all is at an end? Forever?

The Stranger (nodding). Nothing can change it then, Ellida. I shall never again come to this land. You will never see me again, nor hear from me either. Then I shall be as one dead and gone from you forever.

Ellida (breathing with difficulty). Oh!

The Stranger. So think carefully what you do. Goodbye! (He goes to the fence and climbs over it, stands still, and says.) Yes, Ellida; be ready for the journey tomorrow night. For then I shall come and fetch you. (He goes slowly and calmly down the footpath to the right.)

Ellida (looking after him for a time). Freely, he said; think--he said that I must go with him freely!

w.a.n.gel. Only keep calm. Why, he's gone now, and you'll never see him again.

Ellida. Oh! how can you say that? He's coming again tomorrow night!

w.a.n.gel. Let him come. He shall not meet you again in any case.